I do agree with Clark, but I still also believe that the steel and heat treatment there of remained relatively the same. I have never seen in print (Reliable source) what type of steel was used in the receivers. It is possible that when Savage switched to a magazine on the model '99 that the the steel was changed. I never really got involved to any depth with the "C" model. That would make sense as far as reinforcing the area where steel was removed.